It (the hat trick) is kind of a relief. It was one of the things that was really nagging me.

It's more than six years since my last hat-trick so it was sweet to get another one. I'm getting back to my best now and I'm scoring goals. I scored three against Boston and I could have had more. I'm just pleased that I'm getting the chance to play regular football again - the manager told me that is why he wanted me and I'm paying him back with the goals.

Then he went out and scored a hat trick and backed it up,

Getting a hat trick is great, but it's a lot more important to me that we won. Our team is playing really good right now and we just have to keep that up. We sent some nice balls through and we just happened to come out on top and I am proud of everyone on this team.

They didn't throw me on one of the top lines, but they didn't keep me out as a healthy scratch, either. I think Dave King and Doug were using me well, and I think it was good development for me. I couldn't think of a better team to come to for a young guy than Columbus. You aren't just going to jump in and be a star player at 18. It's tough to be a star in the NHL. I just fit in and played my role on the third line, and just kind of hit and chipped in with a goal here or there when I could.

Getting a hat trick in soccer is almost a miracle.